It's one of those restaurant-biz dreams that'd be cliché if it wasn't so heartwarming: a husband and wife who've worked in the industry for years finally save up, find the perfect spot, and open their own place. For Dan and Kristen Valachovic, that place is Vee Vee (763 Centre Street, Jamaica Plain, 617.522.0145), a small, JP "new-American bistro." The name comes from a nickname of Dan's, and the space has a simple, modern aesthetic that's clutter-free and comfortable. Chef Brendan Wood, most recently of Lucca and Sasso, heads up his own kitchen for the first time, focusing mostly on seafood, veggies, and grains; options you're likely to see on the opening menu include herb-basted cod served with wheatberries and mushroom ragout, stuffed delicata squash, and filo turnovers made with wild mushrooms, leeks, and gruyere.
[Photo by Melissa Ostrow]
